Dr Rose Aslan was a tenured Professor of Religious Studies who found herself burnt out and, on a sabbatical in Istanbul, decided to step away from academia. From her current perspective, Rose explores what she would do differently if she were to do her PhD again. Rose acknowledges that, although there were some good moments, she didn’t really enjoy her PhD experience and, with the benefit of hindsight, she can identify where an approach with prioritized well-being would have greatly improved that experience.
Rose reflects on what she calls her past “people-pleasing” tendencies and how she has learned to prioritize her own needs and say no to situations and relationships that don't serve her. Rose offers the idea of “compassionate boundaries” and the positive impact they can have on energy levels and personal fulfillment.
Rose also encourages PhD researchers to seek out resources and support systems in order to help their PhD journey. It is OK to seek help!
We end with a top tip around grounding in order to assuage anxiety.
You can find out more about Rose’s work here: https://compassionflow.com/
If you would like a useful weekly email to support you on your PhD journey you can sign up for ‘Notes from the Life Raft’ here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft
